US President Donald Trump has ordered the preparation of plans for military action in Nigeria to tackle Islamist militant groups, accusing the government of not doing enough to halt the killing of Christians.
Trump did not specify which events he was referring to, but there have been claims circulating regarding a genocide against Nigeria's Christians among some right-wing US circles.
Monitoring groups indicate that there is no substantiated evidence suggesting Christians are being killed more than Muslims in Nigeria, where followers of both religions are fairly evenly divided.
The Nigerian government has yet to respond to the US military threat. However, Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu insisted that religious tolerance exists in the country, highlighting that security challenges are affecting people "across faiths and regions".
Trump, in a recent social media post, instructed the US Department of War to prepare for possible action, warning that military intervention could occur if the Nigerian government does not address the situation. Moreover, he announced plans to cut all aid to Nigeria.
Earlier, Trump labeled Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern due to the purported dangers facing its Christian population, stating that thousands have been killed without providing evidence for this claim. This categorization permits sanctions against nations engaged in severe violations of religious freedom.
In response, Tinubu confirmed that his government is committed to collaborating with the US and the international community to safeguard communities of all faiths. He stated, The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality.\
Militant groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province have caused devastation in northeastern Nigeria for over a decade, predominantly affecting Muslims, according to political violence analysts.
Additionally, in central Nigeria, there are ongoing conflicts between mostly Muslim herders and Christian farming groups concerning water access and grazing land. These skirmishes have led to a cycle of violence affecting both communities, and human rights organizations indicate that there is no evidence that Christians are disproportionately targeted.
While Trump previously expressed satisfaction over not involving the US in warfare during his presidency, he faces increasing pressure from right-wing factions to take decisive actions regarding Nigeria's religious violence issues.
